Safety package assembly and divider clamp therefor

ABSTRACT

A divider clamp assembly having many uses such as isolating reactive potting compound constituents in a flexible walled package assembly until the constituents are ready for use.

United States Patent Thompson et al.

[ 1 Feb. 8, 1972 [54] SAFETY PACKAGE ASSEMBLY AND DIVIDER CLAMP THEREFOR [72] Inventors: John T. Thompson, 244 Loring St., Los

Angeles, Calif. 90024; George W. Gillemot, 2331 20th St., Santa Monica, Calif. 90405 [22] Filed: Oct. 27, 1969 [21] AppLNo; 869,504

[52] US. Cl. ..24/255 BC, 206/47 A [51] Int. Cl ..B65d 77/10 [58] Field of Search ..206/47 A; 24/305, 243.9, 243.10,

24/243.l1, 255 BC, 255 P, 137, I38

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,533,539 12/1950 Vivian ..24/30.5 R UX 2,888,725 6/1959 Cudd ..24/137 X 3,058,313 10/1962 Robbins... ....206/47 A 3,082,867 3/1963 Gelpey..... ....206/47 A 3,141,221 7/1964 Faulls... ..24/30.5 R 3,266,711 8/1966 Song ..24/30.5 R X 3,524,226 8/1970 Brown ..24/137 R X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,018,749 2/1966 Great Britain ..206/47 A Primary Examiner--Donald A. Griffin AttorneySellers and Brace [57] ABSTRACT A divider clamp assembly having many uses such as isolating reactive potting compound constituents in a flexible walled package assembly until the constituents are ready for use.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SAFETY PACKAGE ASSEMBLY AND DIVIDER CLAMP THEREFOR This invention relates to packaging assemblies and more particularly to an improved safety package for isolating chemically reactive constituents at the opposite ends of a common inner storage compartment until ready for intermixing and including a surrounding container for holding the constituents captive and isolated should a failure occur in the inner compartment wall. The safety package assembly also features improved divider clamp means for holding the constituents separated until ready for use.

In a typical application for which the invention safety package is admirably suited, the principle constituents of a polymerizable thermoplastic composition are packaged, stored and shipped. When these two principal ingredients comprising resinous material and a catalytic agent are mixed, polymerization ensues to form a rigid body of a desired configuration. Various proposals have been made heretofore for a packaging container formed with partition means separating the principal constituents until ready for intermixing and use. Despite the many attempts made to provide easily destroyed frangible partitions between adjacent compartments for the constituents, these expedients have not been satisfactory for a number of reasons. To avoid these difficulties, it has been proposed to hold the constituents in the opposite ends of a unitary container by a removable clamp applied across the midportion of the container. Although such divider clamping assemblies have met with greater success than frangible partitions they are typically subject to the serious disadvantage that the clamps sometimes fail or loosen releasing some or all of the catalyst into the resin thereby allowing the contents of the package to polymerize prematurely and while packaged. Another serious disadvantage of prior packaging assemblies of this type results from rupture of one or both compartments by the application of a sharp blow or excessive pressure. Not only do the contents then escape onto other items in the immediate vicinity but the package and its contents become worthless.

According to the present invention, eminently satisfactory solutions are provided for each of the foregoing shortcomings of prior packaging assemblies. Failure of the principal container and loss of its contents has been overcome by the simple expedient of enclosing the inner container in an outer container of the same general construction but preferably of stronger material and in a size slightly larger than the main or inner container. The chemically reactive constituents are isolated from one another in the opposite ends of the main container which is then sealed within an outer protective container. An improved divider clamping assembly is then employed to hold the walls of the two internested containers tightly compressed against one another to form two pairs of completely isolated compartments at the opposite ends of the containers. The outer chambers or compartments being slightly larger than the inner compartments and normally not filled, are not subject to load forces. Accordingly, applied stresses are substantially confined to the walls of the compartments at either end of the inner container with the result that any failure first occurs in the walls of this container. The escape of the contents then takes place into the sealed surrounding compartment of the outer container and there held captive until the clamping assembly is removed. Accordingly, even through both inner compartments are ruptured the contents cannot intermingle until the clamping assembly is removed. At this time, the ingredients can be intermixed thoroughly with one another preliminary to the opening of the inner and outer containers and use of the contents.

The improved clamping and divider assembly includes a relatively soft, smooth surfaced inner member and a relatively stiff highly resilient U-shaped outer member snugly embracing the inner member and cooperating therewith to hold the two container walls flattened and compressed against one another between the two clamping members. Aiding very materially in holding the parts assembled in this manner are a plurality of sharp-edged ribs projecting inwardly from the inner surface of the U-shaped clip member. Desirably, only the innermost pair of these ribs are positioned in close proximity to the inner clamping member, the other sharp-edged ribs being positioned to come progressively into clamping operation if and upon any tendency of the clamping members to become disengaged. Highly superior clamping effectiveness and operating reliability has been found to result when using a relatively soft less resilient inner member in combination with a highly resilient and relatively stiff inflexible outer member particularly when the latter includes inwardly projecting sharp edged ribs. The use of a series of ribs in parallel along either leg of the outer clip member and so arranged as to become operative in sequence upon any tendency of the clamp members to become disassembled and cooperating to urge the clamp parts back into their proper assembled position has been found to add greatly to the reliability and foolproof characteristics of the divider clamp assembly.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a more reliable, trouble free and dependable packaging assembly for holding chemically reactive constituents isolated within a common package until ready for use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved and more reliable divider clamp assembly for use with shipping containers utilizing detachable clamps to hold constituents isolated from one another at the opposite ends of a common flexible walled container.

These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and claims and upon considering in connection therewith the attached drawing to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawing in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one preferred embodiment of the invention safety packaging assembly with portions broken away to show constructional details;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the package shown in FIG. 1 with portions of the walls broken away;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale taken through one end of the divider clamp assembly; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 44 on FIG. 3.

Referring initially and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown an illustrative embodiment of the present invention designated generally 10. This packaging assembly includes an elongated inner tubular container 11 and an outer slightly larger longer tubular container 12. Desirably, both containers are formed of any suitable flexible sheet material of adequate strength and impervious to moisture and the contents to be packaged. A particularly suitable material comprises high strength polyethylene, polyvinylchloride or any of numerous other thermoplastic compositions well known to those in the packaging art. Preferably, the outer container 12 is of greater thickness and strength than the inner container to withstand impact blows and contact with abrasive and sharpedged bodies. As will be appreciated, the outer container is customarily exposed to greater hazards than the inner bag. However, the inner bag is subjected to fluid pressure if excessive weight is applied to the package assembly from its exteri- It will be understood that the interiors of both containers are unobstructed and in full communication with one another until and unless their opposite sidewalls are held compressed against one another in a transverse band between their opposite ends. This is achieved using the invention divider clamp assembly comprising a first or smooth surfaced mandrel member 15 and a second generally U-shaped clip member 16 and preferably made in the configurations best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The elongated divider members are of equal length adequate to project beyond the opposite lateral edges of the flattened tubular containers l1, l2. Mandrel member 15 is here shown as being tubular and generally circular in cross section. Preferably it has a smooth exterior surface and a shape and size nesting snugly against the interior surface 17 along the entire bight portion of clip 16.

Clip 16 is generally U-shape in cross section and the outer ends 18, 18 of its legs flare away from one another and have rounded outer edges. The interior surfaces of legs 18 are provided with a plurality of integral sharp-edged ribs 19 extending parallel to one another and to the axis of mandrel member when the latter is properly and fully seated within the bight portion of the clip.

As herein illustrated, the innermost pair of ribs 19 are positioned to apply light to moderate pressure against the compressed and flattened sidewalls of tubular containers l1 and 12. However, if member 15 is not fully seated then it will be apparent that the inner pair of ribs 19 to either side of member 15 will press the sidewalls of the bags against member 16 with greater pressure and that the adjacent pair of ribs 19 will then be in a position to press the flattened sidewalls of the container against member 15, and supplement the sealing action and as well as to apply pressure resisting further disassembly of member 15 from its fully seated position. It will likewise be understood that the third and fourth pairs of ribs 19 will be brought into restraining operation should member 15 continue its escape movement toward the outer ends of the legs of clip 16.

From the foregoing it will be evident that the described clamping assembly is so proportioned that the innermost pair of ribs 19 are normally effective to apply clamping pressure between their outer sharp edge and the four layers of the two containers to hold the latter firmly compressed against the relatively soft, inner member 15 thereby to hold the latter fully intemested under pressure against the bight portion of the highly resilient and relatively stiff clip 16. Since the transverse spacing or air gap between the sharp edges of related pairs of ribs 19 progressively decreases toward the outer ends of legs 18, it will be readily evident that should there by any tendency for the clamping members to move out-of their fully nested positions, ribs 19 become increasingly effective to cam member 15 back into its proper fully nested position.

Although members 15 and 16 may be made of either metallic or nonmetallic materials, highly satisfactory results have been achieved when both members are made of elastomeric material including both rubber and thermoplastic compositions. Preferably, tubular member 15 is formed of relatively soft low resiliency elastomeric material whereas the clip member 16 is formed of relatively stiff highly resilient materials, member 15 having a durometer of Rockwell 93:3 on the A scale and clip member 16 having a durometer of 78fl on the D scale.

it will be understood that the containers ll, 12 may be assembled one within the other with their flattened mid portions placed crosswise of the outer edges of legs 18 of clip 16. Member 15 is then placed against the exterior of the outer container opposite and between the legs 18 and then forcibly pressed between the legs until fully seated in the position shown in FIGS. 2-4. For clarity of illustration, it will be recognized that the thickness of the container walls is shown greatly exaggerated. in actual practice the walls are only a few mils thick with the result that the outer radius of member 15 is substantially identical with the inner radius of the bight portion 17 prior to assembly of the parts; in fact, the radius of member 15 may be slightly greater than the relaxed inner radius of surface 17. It follows that when the parts are properly assembled, the juxtaposed surfaces of member 15 and of surface 17 will be highly effective in pressing the flattened surfaces of the containers against one another and against relatively soft surface of mandrel member 15 as well as against the sharp edges of the innerpost pair of ribs 19.

The divider clamping assembly 15, 16 having been applied as described, the open outer ends of the inner container 11 may be charged such as with the chemically reactive constituents. For example, one of the chambers may be charged with resinous material 20 and the other with a suitable polymerizing and catalystic material 21. The transverse ends 22, 23 of the inner container are then sealed closed, as by heat sealing or any other suitable mode. Thereafter, the outer ends 24, 25 of outer container 12 are similarly sealed closed.

The completed package assembly is now ready for shipment or storage until the packaged materials 20, 21 are required for use. If in the meantime, excessive pressure or a sharp blow is delivered against the package assembly the somewhat weaker inner container will fail first and the contents thereof will escape into the associated enclosing chamber provided by the outer protective container 12. However, the material escaping into one end of the outer container cannot pass into the opposite end of this container owing to the powerful and highly reliable clamping action provided by clamping members 15, 16. For this reason, even though both chambers of container 11 should fail or rupture, chemically reactive constituents 20, 21 cannot intermingle until or unless clip 16 is removed. The removal operation is most readily accomplished by grasping the opposite ends of the two containers and abruptly pulling them taut thereby spreading the legs of the clip and ejecting member 15. The clamping assembly having been removed, the reactive materials 20, 21 are thoroughly intermixed and then released for use by cutting off one adjacent pair of ends of the two containers. While the particular safety package assembly and divider clamp therefor herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention.

We claim:

1. A divider clamp assembly for use in clamping the opposed sidewalls of a tubular flexible-walled container compressed against one another, said divider assembly comprising a pair of elongated first and second members-shaped to internest in strong frictional contact with one another and formed of extruded thermoplastic material of substantially different resiliency, said first member being of uniform tubular cross section and relatively soft and said second member being of uniform U-shape in cross section and relatively stiff and highly resilient, the interior bight portion of said second member conforming in shape with the exterior of said first member and being sized to have a firm press fit therewith when said mem bers are intemested, and the interior of said second member having integral sharp edged ribs extending lengthwise thereof facing toward the outer surface of said first member and positioned to press intervening sheet material firmly and tightly against said first member when present therebetween.

2. A divider clamp assembly as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said second member is extruded from high durometer elastomeric material, and having the outer end portions of the legs thereof flaring outwardly away from one another.

3. A divider clamp assembly as defined in claim 1 characterized in that the interior bight portion of said U-shaped member is free of said sharp edged ribs, and the outer surface of said tubular first member being smooth.

4. A divider clamp assembly as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said first member is cylindrical in cross section.

5. A divider clamp assembly as defined in claim 1 characterized in that the outer end portions of the legs of said U- shaped second member curve outwardly away from one another to provide a flaring inlet to the interior bight portion of said second member through which said first member can be forcibly inserted into a fully assembled position therewithin while the axis thereof lies generally parallel to and laterally spaced from said interior bight portion of said second member.

6. A divider clamp assembly as defined in claim 1 characterized in that each of the inner sidewalls of the legs of said U- shaped second member include a plurality of said sharp edged ribs closely spaced to and lying parallel to one another.

7. A divider clamp assembly as defined in claim 6 characterized in that the sharp edges of said ribs on each leg of said second member lie generally in a plane and in that the planes of said sharp edges converge toward one another relative to the outer ends of said U-legs and cooperate to resist displacement of said first member past the outer ends of said U-legs.

8. A divider clamp assembly as defined in claim 6 characterized in that a plurality of said sharp edged ribs are normally free of pressure contact with said first member in the fully assembled positions of said members. 

1. A divider clamp assembly for use in clamping the opposed sidewalls of a tubular flexible-walled container compressed against one another, said divider assembly comprising a pair of elongated first and second members shaped to internest in strong frictional contact with one another and formed of extruded thermoplastic material of substantially different resiliency, said first member being of uniform tubular cross section and relatively soft and said second member being of uniform U-shape in cross section and relatively stiff and highly resilient, the interior bight portion of said second member conforming in shape with the exterior of said first member and being sized to have a firm press fit therewith when said members are internested, and the interior of said second member having integral sharp edged ribs extending lengthwise thereof facing toward the outer surface of said first member and positioned to press intervening sheet material firmly and tightly against said first member when present therebetween.
 2. A divider clamp assembly as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said second member is extruded from high durometer elastomeric material, and having the outer end portions of the legs thereof flaring outwardly away from one another.
 3. A divider clamp assembly as defined in claim 1 characterized in that the interior bight portion of said U-shaped member is free of said sharp edged ribs, and the outer surface of said tubular first member being smooth.
 4. A divider clamp assembly as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said first member is cylindrical in cross section.
 5. A divider clamp assembly as defined in claim 1 characterized in that the outer end portions of the legs of said U-shaped second member curve outwardly away from one another to provide a flaring inlet to the interior bight portion of said second member through which said first member can be forcibly inserted into a fully assembled position therewithin while the axis thereof lies generally parallel to and laterally spaced from said interior bight portion of said second member.
 6. A divider clamp assembly as defined in claim 1 characterized in that each of the inner sidewalls of the legs of said U-shaped second member include a plurality of said sharp edged ribs closely spaced to and lying parallel to one another.
 7. A divider clamp assembly as defined in claim 6 characterized in that the sharp edges of said ribs on each leg of said second member lie generally in a plane and in that the planes of said sharp edges converge toward one another relative to the outer ends of said U-legs and cooperate to resist displacement of said first member past the outer ends of said U-legs.
 8. A divider clamp assembly as defined in claim 6 characterized in that a plurality of said sharp edged ribs are normally free of pressure contact with said first member in the fully assembled positions of said members. 